With the holiday season in full swing, many will argue that it is the most wonderful time of the year. If you ask a college student, we are quickly approaching the worst time of the semester: finals. The season of finals is almost here, but don’t fret as this only means that winter break, a well deserved vacation and a chance to see your pet, is right around the corner.
Finals are enough to stress out even the most seasoned test takers. Whether you have no finals, one final or, god forbid, a final for every class, remember that breaks are a crucial part of studying. Being able to take a break from what you’re doing allows you to stay sane during peak stress times of the semester.
Something that can help you decompress, and arguably help you study, is music. Regardless of how many finals you have this semester, don’t forget to take a break and listen to some music every now and then.
“Feelings” by Cuco
A very layered song to match a very layered amount of exam material, ‘Feelings’ presents itself as an alternative treat. A spacey ambiance with jazzy undertones blocks everything and everyone else out to help you focus on your work without distracting you.
“K.” by Cigarettes After Sex
“K.” doesn’t try to be anything other than itself, in the sense that you can hear all of its moving parts. This song isn’t over produced, but it isn’t acoustic and is dying to be understood. The next time you need something new to focus on, take a couple minutes and pick this song apart.
“Sorry (Original Demo)” by Beyoncé
The stripped back version of this song showcases the vulnerability of this self-confident anthem. With the vocals being the focus of this take, the production fades into the background, giving you a little bit of guidance as you annotate another chapter from your notes.
“Gbona” by Burna Boy
Offering more of a coffee shop vibe, “Gbona” has a jazzy beat with slow, smooth vocals. Fusing hip-hop with Afrobeat, Gbona mellows a listener out by simply being smooth and guiding them through the rhythm of the song.
“Loving Someone” by The 1975
All things are not as they seem, much like this song. The chorus is slow, but the verses are fast-paced and full of powerful lyrics. The story this song tells could be the subject of your next English paper, but to put it in a nutshell: living your life by expressing yourself is the purest form of art. Take a minute or two and listen to this song’s story.
“Eastside” by benny blanco, Halsey and Khalid
This song instantly hurls the listener of the nostalgia of a summer that has come and gone. Sit back and fade into this summer memory while pages are turning, papers are being printed and coffees are being swallowed up by the cup in the library this finals season.
